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“THE STAR”, Tuesday, March 1, 2016 - PAGE 5
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By Brad Lester
SOUTH Gippsland Shire has tak-
en a stronger stance against coal
exploration and mining in the
Mirboo North district.
The council’s position, confirmed
at last Wednesday’s meeting, was in re-
sponse to a petition from the Mirboo
North community, signed by 1970 people,
calling for coal mining to be banned in
Mirboo North.
Council officers had recommended
councillors note the petition and provide
a copy to the Minister for Energy and
Resources Lily D’Ambrosio and Mantle
Mining, the company holding a coal ex-
ploration licence over Mirboo North.
Officers had also requested council
and the community receive updates about
activities associated with the exploration
licence or progress towards a retention
and/or mining licence.
But in response to a presentation by
Coal and CSG Free Mirboo North last
Wednesday, Cr Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks
moved a motion that council also express
“a firm view against coal exploration and
coal mining in the Mirboo North region
and advise Mantle Mining of this posi-
tion”.
He said farming in the Strzelecki Hills
would be negatively impacted by mining.
Cr Kieran Kennedy said he would
have called for an exemption from min-
ing but the motion “was a step in the right
direction”.
“Itisourdutytogoasfaraswecan
and protect the very economy of this
shire, which is agriculture and tourism,”
he said.
Cr Don Hill said the community
wanted to hear council call for a complete
ban. Cr Lorraine Brunt said council did
not have jurisdiction to do so and said her
council colleagues were electioneering
ahead of the October council election.
Cr Jim Fawcett said, “We have done
everything in our power to support our
community.
“We can’t refuse someone to mine be-
cause that is a state responsibility.”
Cr Hutchinson-Brooks said he rejected
claims council was not representing the
community’s views, labelling such claims
as “offensive”.
Council’s unanimous support for the
motion was applauded by members of
Coal and CSG Free Mirboo North in the
council gallery.
The group’s Marg Thomas had earlier
told council, “The exploration licences
are a ‘foot in the door’ for gaining a re-
tention licence. If the mining company
proceeds to successfully apply for a re-
tention licence it means many more years
of uncertainty for our communities as this
type of licence can be held up to 10 years
and may be renewed twice for up to 10
years.”
The group urged council to add to the
original motion: “That council take a firm,
definitive position against coal explora-
tion and mining and advise government
and Mantle Mining of this position.”
By Brad Lester
SOUTH Gippsland
Shire Council should
have made a submis-
sion to the Victorian
Parliamentary Inquiry
into Unconventional
Gas when invited to
eight months ago, Cr
Don Hill said.
His comments were made
as council last Wednesday
voted to advise the State
Government it endorsed the
key recommendations of the
inquiry’s final report, that
suggest further research be
undertaken and risk mitigation
controls put in place to address
any future impacts.
Council also voted to
advise the government it
supported a ban on the un-
conventional gas industry in
Victoria for all forms of un-
conventional gas until it could
be demonstrated the impacts
would not adversely affect
the environment, economy or
community.
Cr Hill said the motion
“falls short of what we should
be saying”, urging council
to mention the value of the
shire’s agriculture.
He foreshadowed he
would table a motion at the
April council meeting to ex-
press that view.
Cr Andrew McEwen said
council should call for an ex-
emption from such gas min-
ing, particularly given South
Gippsland’s record of earth-
quakes, and the possible link
between coal seam gas mining
and increased risk of earth-
quakes.
Members of Coal and
CSG Free Mirboo North ap-
plauded council’s decision.
Chris Buckingham, the
Labor candidate for McMillan
at the next federal election,
told council he supported a
permanent ban on onshore
unconventional gas in South
Gippsland
“Thousands of people
across
South Gippsland
are waiting for council to
call for a permanent ban on
onshore unconventional gas
exploration and extraction,”
he said.
“Gippsland has given
much to the state of Victoria
and indeed to the nation,
through agriculture, through
timber, mining and energy
production,
tourism and
indeed water.
“South Gippsland makes
a significant contribution
in particular through its
strengths in tourism and
agriculture. We have world
class nature in our own back
yard that is the pride of all
Victorians.
“It beggars belief that
as a community we would
let our communities, our
environment and our economy
be compromised by energy
companies seeking to make a
quick buck - or that we would
risk polluting our valuable
underground water supplies.”
By Brad Lester
SOUTH Gippsland
Shire Council has
confirmed its inten-
tion to inject new
life into Leongatha.
Council last Wednes-
day adopted five prior-
ity projects for 2016,
including the Leongatha
Revitalisation
Project
that encompasses trans-
forming Bair Street into
a commercial hub, rede-
signing Anderson Street
and finding a new use
for the overgrown rail
yards.
Anderson Street –
the northern entrance to
town – will be stage one,
with Bair Street stage
two and the rail yards
stage three.
Other priority proj-
ects are the restoration
of the Long Jetty at Port
Welshpool, the Foster
streetscape development
project, the Northern
Towns Water Security
Project and realigning
the winding section of
the South Gippsland
Highway at Black Spur
between Koonwarra and
Meeniyan.
Cr Nigel Hutchin-
son-Brooks said the Le-
ongatha Revitalisation
Project was “very im-
portant”.
“The chamber of
commerce wants some-
thing done with the Vic-
Track land. We do have a
project to revitalise Bair
Street,” he said.
Cr Mohya Davies
said the Black Spur proj-
ect was vital.
“There were more
than two accidents at the
Black Spur recently and
that is a continuing cost
to our community,” she
said.
Cr Lorraine Brunt
said the northern towns
project would give water
security to Korumburra,
Loch, Nyora and Poo-
wong by linking these
towns with the Lance
Creek reservoir.
South Gippsland Wa-
ter is seeking State Gov-
ernment funding for the
project.
“It is about us back-
ing up the water author-
ity as it’s important to
have water security,” she
said.
Cr Brunt said coun-
cil had a track record of
achieving funding for
priority projects as these
were often shovel ready
when funding opportuni-
ties arose.
She cited the Karmai
Integrated Children’s
Centre at Korumburra,
now under construction,
as an example.
Cr Andrew McEwen
said improving the Ko-
rumburra
streetscape
was also a project of sig-
nificance.
“A lot of people have
said to me it looks like
a 1960s streetscape,” he
said.
Ban plea: from left, Suzanne Wightman, Anna Hall, Phil Piper, Julie Price, Marg Thomas, David Arnault,
Gayle Margaret and Denyse Menzies of Coal and CSG Free Mirboo North persuaded South Gippsland
Shire Council to express firm opposition to coal mining in Mirboo North last Wednesday.
Council rejects coal mining
CSG view
‘too late’
Leongatha a top priority